PETALING JAYA: National coach Peter Cklamovski has defended his decision to include Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) centreback Junior Eldstal in the training camp ahead of Malaysia’s Asian Cup Group F clash against Vietnam at the Nam Dinh Stadium on March 31.
Eldstal’s selection has raised eyebrows, as the defender has yet to feature in the Super League this season and has only turned out for JDT’s second team in the A1 Semi-Pro League.
However, the 33-year-old, who has earned 23 caps for Malaysia, did feature for the Southern Tigers last season.
Cklamovski stressed that experience and leadership remain key considerations in squad selection, especially in high-pressure situations.
“There’s been debate about why Junior was selected, and I accept that. But it’s not uncommon to bring an experienced player into the group as many national teams do this,” said Cklamovski.
“What he brings from a leadership perspective is invaluable. That’s something you can’t always measure with data, but it’s an important factor when selecting a squad in this situation.”
Looking ahead, the Australian made it clear that places in the national team remain open to those who prove their worth.
“It’s a simple equation. Players need to keep performing well, train hard and raise their level. If they do that, they will put themselves firmly in contention for selection.”
